From bestselling adult fiction author and renowned poet JJ Bola comes his astonishingly powerful debut picture book. Masterful, mesmerising, and the perfect entry point for parents looking to encourage conversations about children's mental health.
Bola Book order
JJ Bola's writing centers on narratives of empowerment, humanization, and the healing of trauma, alongside self-discovery through art, literature, and poetry. He champions the belief that the true purpose of art is to expose the reality of the world and, crucially, to guide us in surviving it. His work often employs vivid storytelling and resonant metaphors to connect readers deeply with his message. Bola actively engages with the literary scene through performances and workshops, further amplifying his artistic voice and vision.
- 2023
- 2021
The Selfless Act of Breathing
- 304 pages
- 11 hours of reading
JJ Bola's second novel is a story of millennial existential angst told through the eyes of a young Londoner who seems to have it all - a promising future, a solid career, strong friendships, a blossoming love story - but it's the unbearable weight of life that leads him to decide to take his own. As he grapples with issues bigger than him - political conflict, environmental desecration, police brutality - Michael seeks to find his place within a world that is complicated and unwelcoming. Although he finds solace in the people that surround him, he alone must decide if his life is worth living.